Combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump



July 25, 1950 DE WITT E. YATEs 2,516,822

COMBINED TURBINE AND CENTRIF'UGAL BOOSTER PUMP Filed Jan. 18, 1946 3 Sheets-Shea?I l July 25, 1950 DE WITT E. YATEs 2,516,822

COMBINED TURBINE AND CENTRIFUGAL BoosTER PUMP Filed Jan. 18, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

July 25, 41950 DE WITT E. YATEs COMBINED TURB'INE AND CENTRIFUGAL BOOSTER PUMP Filed Jan. 18171946 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented .ulfy 25., 15950 CDMBINED 'EURBINE AND CENTR-IFUGAL EOSTEE PUMP De Witt E. Yates, Chippewa Falla'Wis., assignor to Vf.. S. Barley & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 18, 1946, Serial No. 842,028

The present linvention relates generally to combined turbines and centrifugal booster pumps. More particularly the invention relates to that type of combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump Which is adapted for use in connection With a power driven main centrifugal pump at an appreciable height or elevation abovel a source of water, has a common shaft on which the rotor of the turbine and the impeller of its centrifugal pump are mounted, and in addition, has the inlet for the turbine connected by a small sized or branch conduit to the outlet of the casing of the main centrifugal pump and the outlet f its centrifugal pump connected to the inlet of the casing of the main centrifugal pump, and serves when immersed in the source of water and in connection with drive of the main pump to pump Water from the source into the inlet of the casing-of the main centrifugal pump.

One object of the invention is to provide a combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump of this type Which is an improvement upon, and hasv certain advantages over, previously designed combined turbines and centrifugal booster pumps and is characterized by compactness as Well as simplicity of design and high operating efficiency.

Another object of the invention is -to provide a combined -turbine and y centrifugal booster pump in `Which the various component parts thereof are arranged and constructed in a novel manner to the end that the unit as a whole has Jrliot only high operating efficiency but also long Another object of the invention is to provide a combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump of the type under consideration in which the turn bine is of the outward flow variety and discharges directly into the pumpage from the impeller of the centrifugal booster pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump Which comprises but a single casing for the turbineand booster pump and in which the rotor of the turbine andthe impeller of the booster pump are formed integrally with one another. n

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump which is especially designed and adapted to pump water from a deep Water Well having a comparatively small sized casing, and in which the branch or small sized conduit leading from the outlet of the power driven main centrifugal pump to the turbine inlet is disposed Within, and

2 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 87) arranged in concentric relation with, the conduit that leads from the outlet of the booster pump to the inlet of the main centrifugal pump. A still further object of the invention is to `provide a combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump which is generally of new and improved construction and, due to the arrangement and design of its component parts, may be produced at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisy specification or disclosure and in Which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevational View showing a combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump ernbodying the invention in connected or operative relation with a power driven main centrifugal pump and a tank for feeding Water to the inlet of the casing of the main pump in connection with starting of the latter;

Figure la is a plan view of the parts that are'shown in Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec tionV of the combined turbine and centrifugal boosterA pump, illustrating in detail the construction, arrangement and ydesign of its component pump which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is designed and adapted for use in connection with a main centrifugal pump 5 and a tank 6 for priming the main pump and serves when immersed in a body or source cf water at an appreciable distance beneath the main pump ii .and in connection with drive of the latter, to supply water under pressure from the source into the casing of the main centrifugal pump. Although the combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump has many capabilities of use it has special utility as a medium or instrumentality for pumping Water from a deep Water Well including a small sized cylindrical casing l. As shown in 1figure l of the drawings, the centrifugal pump is located at the upper end of the casing 'l and the tank S for priming the main pump in connection with starting of the latter is located at one side of the main pump. The latter is of standard or conventional design and comprises a volute casing S and an impeller (not shown) in the casing. The impeller of the main centrifugal pump is connected for drive by a coaxially disposed shaft (also not shown) which is driven by any suitable source of power, such, for example, as an electric motor or an internal combustion engine. The casing 8 of the pump 5 embodies an inlet i in the central portion oi the front wall thereof and has a tangential outlet I il in the portion of its side wall that is of maximum radius. When the main pump 5 is driven the impeller operates to suck liquid into the casing via the inlet 9 and then through the action of its blades to fling the liquid outwards under pressure so that it travels around the side wall of the casing and is finally discharged through the outlet lil, aswell understood in the art. pump casing il has associated with it a T fitting l l. One ofthe longitudinal branches of this tting is connected to the casing inlet 9 and the other longitudinal branch of the fitting is provided with a control valve l2. The tank B is disposed above the main centrifugal pump 5' as well as to one side of the latter and is adapted to contain a column of water. The'bottom of the tank l' is connected to the transverse branch of the T itting l l by way of a pipe i3 which has a control valve ld therein. When the pump Sis-inl operation it is contemplated that the valve i4 will be closed. In connection with starting of the main pump the valve Iii is opened` Upon open-` ing of the valve water in the tank 6 flows into the pump casing S via the pipe I3 and then in response to the action of the impeller of the main pump is discharged under pressure through-the outlet i@ of the casing l2. Said outlet of the casing of the main centrifugal pump 5 has associated with it a T fittingl5. The transverse branch of this tting is suitably connected to the casing outlet ill and the longitudinal branches ofthe tting are provided respectively with control valves IS and ll. A hose i8 is connected to, and leads from, the branch of the T fitting I 5 that includes the valve i6. The outer end of this hose is provided with a nozzle i9 in order that the water that is pumped by the main pump 5 may be discharged wherever desired. When the main centrifugal pump 5 is in operation while the ,valve iii is open water under pressure, as hereinafter dcribed more in detail, is supplied tothe hose i8 and is discharged through the medium of the nozzle i9.

The combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump serves, as heretofore pointed out, to boost or pump water in the lower end'of the deep well casing to the main centrifugal pump 5 during drive or operation of the latter. It is essentially a self-contained unit and is adapted in connecn tion with use thereof to be disposed in the lower end of the casingl 'i where it is fully immersed in the water at the lower end of the well. As its main or principal components the combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump comprises a horizontal casing 2Q, a horizontally disposed unitary 2l in the casing and vertically extending shaft 22 for the rotary member;

casing 2Q is circular in cross section and sts of a cup shaped lower member 23, an

inverted cup shaped upper member 24 and a ring shaped member 25;within the lowerA and upper'I The inlet 9 of the-main` members 23 and 24. The largest external diameter of the casing is less than the internal diameter of the well casing 'i in order that the casing 2B of the combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump may be introduced into, and removed from, the well casing. The cup shaped lower member 23 is preferably'in the form of4 a onepiece casting and consists of a4 circular bottom wall 28 and a cylindrical side wall 2l. The bottom wall 26 embodies in the central portion thereof a circular inlet 28 for the water to be pumped under pressure to the inlet S of the casing 8 of the main centrifugal pump 5. The portion of the bottom wall 26 that defines the inlet 28 is provided with anintegral downwardly extending annular flange 29. The side wall 27 of the cup shaped lower member 23 of the casing 20 is formed integrally with the outer marginal Jportion of the bottom wall 2S and embodies at its upper margin an integral inwardly extending annular flange im. The inverted cup` shaped'upper member 24er the casing Z'ioverlies thel lowerf casing member 23. It is preferably inthe form'of a onepiece casting and consists of'a circular top'wall 3i and a downwardly flared' circular side' wa1l'321 The central'Y portion ofthe topwall 3l' isl provided with aV circular outlet331for the water that pumped by the combinedturbine andcentrifugal booster pump. This outlet 33-is` positioned concentrically with respectito, and 'is of greater diameter than, the circular inlet 28 in the central' por'-V tion of the bottom wall 2tvr of 'thelower memberZBl of the casing 2D and is connected to the inlet-'9 of the'casing of vthe main centrifugalpump `'rby way" of ay vertically extending pipe type conduit 34" and a T fitting 355 Theconduit 34 is designedl to extend through andis of greater'length'than the4 well casingv T, eis-shown'` in Figure 1'. The lower end of'tl'ie'conduit' 34 extends-into the out/- let 33 and is securedV in place-by ak screw thread connection 3E. the upper end ofthe conduit 34'and is arranged' so that the longitudinal branches thereof extendv vertically. The lower longitudinal branch` of the" T' fitting surrounds'the-*upper end of the conduitl 34land is secured tothe conduit'byascrew thread" connection 31. A conduit 38 extends betweenand serves to connect the'transverse branchY of l l that is provided with the control valvel2.

When the combined turbine and centrifugal boosterpump is in operation waterfis' drawn by suction from the well into the casing 20 viathei` Y inlet 2S in the central portion of the bottom wall' 25 of the lower' casing member 23 and, as hereinafter described more-in detail, isA forcedunder pressure'upwardsinto the outlet 33 in the central portion of the top wall 3l of the' upper casing: member 24. From the outlet-331the-water'underl latter by way of cap `screvvs'dil.` The ring shapedK4 member' 25is centrally positioned'within the' cas;

ing 28 and is arranged so that the'axis thereof extends vertically. It is positioned a' small disetance-v beneath thel circular outlet 3'3- Vand is secured' inplacel-by 'way of? anannular series of The T tting 35-y lslocated' at" outwardly extending webs 4|.4 The inner ends of the webs are formed integrally with the outer peripheral portion of the ring shaped member 25 and the outer upper corners of the webs are welded or otherwise xedly secured to the lower marginal portion of the side wall 32 of the upper casing member 24. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the outer lower corners 'of the webs t snugly within the upper end of the side wall of the lower casing member 23 and serve to hold said lower casing member in centered relation with the upper casing member. Said outer peripheral portion of the ring shaped member 25 isof lless diameter than the outlet 36. The inner peripheral portion of the ring shaped member 25 defines an inlet 42 for the turbine part of the combined turbine and centrifugalv booster pump. It is positioned concentrically with respect to the outlet 33 and is connected to the longitudinal branch of the T fitting I that includes the control valve |1 by means including a vertically extending pipe type conduit 43. The latter, as shown in Figure 2, extends longitudinally through the pipe type conduit 34 and the longitudinal branches of the T tting 35. The lower end of the conduit 43 extends into the upper end of the inlet 42 and is secured in place by means of a screw thread connection 44. The upper end of the conduit 14S-extends through a packing gland 45 and is connected .to the branch of the T tting |5 having the control valve |1 by way of an elbow 46 and a conduit 41. When the main centrifugal pump 5 is in operation a portion of the water that is pumped through the outlet I8 of the casing 8 flows downwards through the conduit 43 into the circular inlet 42 which, as heretofore pointed out, is dened by the inner peripheral portion of the ring shaped member 25.

The unitary rotary member 2| is located in the lower member 23 of the casing 20 between the ring shaped member 25 and the bottom wall 25 of the casing member 23. It is preferably in the form of a one-piece casting and consists of a circular upper shroud 48, an annular series of arcuate blades 49, a circular intermediate shroud 58, an annular series of arcuate blades 5|, a circular lower shroud 52 and a hubl 53. The blades 48 extend between, and are connected to, the upper and intermediate shrouds 48 and 50 and dene therewith a turbine rotor 54. The central portion of the upper shroud 48 is provided with a circular inlet opening 55 and this is in direct communication with the inlet opening 42 and serves to permit water under pressure to ow into the central portion of the turbine rotor 54 and thence outwards past the blades 49. The blades are so angularly arranged that the water under pressure in passing thereby causes rotation of the unitary rotary member 2|. The portion oi' the upper shroud 48 that defines the inlet opening 55 embodies an integral upwardly extending cylindrical sealing ring 56 which is mounted rotatably in the lower end of the inlet 42 that is defined by the inner peripheral portion of the ring shaped member 45. The blades 5| extend between, and are connected to, the intermediate and lower shrouds 50 and 52 and together with the latter dene a closed variety pump impeller 51. The central portion of the lower shroud 52 is provided with an inlet opening 58 and this, as shown in Figure 2, is in direct communication with the inlet 28 in the bottom wa1l26 of the lower casing member 23 and serves to admit water into the central portion of the impeller 5 1. The portionoi the lower shroud that dene's'the inlet openingf58 embodies an'integral depending or downwardly vextending cylindrical'A sealing ring 59 and this ts rotatably. in the inletl 28. When the unitary. rotary member 2| is driven in response to outward iiow of water under pressure past the blades .49 of'the'turbine rotor 54 water is'drawn by'suction into the center of the pump impeller 51 andis ung outwards by the blades 5| against'theinner periphery of the side wal121 of the lower casing member 23.Y The water that' is forceably projected outwards by the pump impeller unites with the water that passes through the turbine rotor and then flows up wards under pressure through the outlet 36' and the conduit 341. After :tiowng` through the conduit the water under pressure flows into the inlet 9 of the casing 8 of the main centrifugal pump 5, as hereinbefore pointed out. AsY shown in Figure 2 the diameter of the unitary rotary member 2|v forming :the turbine rotor 54 and the closed varietyl pump impeller 51 is less than the internal diameter of the sidewall 21 of thelower casing member 23. By reason of the fact that the'turbine rotor 54 and the pump impeller 51' are formed integrally with one another the construction and design oi the vcombined turbine andv centrifugal vbooster pump are materially simplied. In View of the iact that the water that is discharged from the turbine rotor 54 mixes with' the water.` that is pumped by the pump impeller 51 the casing of the combined turbineY and centrifugal booster pump requires but a single outlet and it is pos sible to make the casing 20 extremely small and thus adapt the combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump as a whole for use in a small space, such; for example, as the bottom of a deep well casing. The hub 53 of. the unitary rotary meme.: ber 2l is formed integrally with, and projects upwardsfrom, thev central portion of the intermediate shroud 58. The central portion of the hub 53 is upwardly tapered and lserves to guide or direct outwards towards the blades 49 the water under pressure that is introduced into the central portion of theturbine rotor 54 via the inlet v42.

The vertically extending'shaft 22 is positioned so that the central portion thereof extends centrally'through the inlet 28 in the bottom Wall 26 of the 'lower casing member 23. The'upper end portion of the shaft its within, and is keyed or otherwise fxedly secured to, the hub 53 of the. unitary rotary member 2|. The central and lower end portions of the shaft 22 are journalled in a vertically extending cylindrical vbearing Ell. As shown inFigure 2 this bearing is disposed in coaxial relation with, and is of materially less diameter than, the inlet 28. The lower `end o'f the bearing 60 is carried by, and ts snugly within, a cup shaped element 6|. Such element is disposed beneaththe casing 20 and embodies at its upper end a plurality of upwardly and outwardly extending arms y62, the upper ends of which are connectedvto the annular depending ange 25 on the lbottomwall 26 of the lower cas-v ing member 23. A thrust bearing in the form `of a ball 63 is located in the lower end of the cylindrical bearing 88 and serves to prevent downward displacement of the shaft and unitary rotary mem-ber relatively to the casing 28. The upperA endpof the bearing S0 terminates slightly beneath the hub 53 andvis upwardly'ared so as to direct outwards towards the blades 5| the waterthat is drawn or sucked into the inlet 2,8*du1ir1g drive or rotation ofthe unitary rotary member 2|.

asi 6,8122

In addition` tothe parts heretofore mentioned the. combined turbine and centrifugal. booster pump comprises a check valve B4 for preventing backflow of waterithrough4 the inlet 28 when drive or. rotation. ofv the unitary rotary vmember 2l ceases; This valve is disposed beneath the cup shaped element 6ll and is associated witha cup shaped housing. 65. The. latter consists or a circular bottom wall `66 and an upstanding cylindrical side wall 6l.k The upper end. of the side wall extends around. the depending, annular flange 29 on thev bottom wall 26 of the lower casing inemberl 23` and. is removably lsecured in place by .a screw thread connection 68. The bottomwall BB of they housing B embodies a central. circular hole 69, the: upper portion of which isv downwardly tapered in order to form. an annular valve seat 1B. The check valve A64 is disposed within the lower portion of the housing 65k and is adapted to slide. vertically into and out of a` closed position wherein itis in' seated relation with the seat 1B. A stem 1|; in they form of a pair of crossed webs is connected to and depends from the check valve 64 andv extends slidably through the. circular hole 69 in the bottom wall of the' cup shaped housing 65. When the unitary rotary member' 2i is not in operation and resultantly there is no suction in thefinletZS the check valve 64 assumes its closed position in response to the action of gravity. As soon as the member 2 I is set in motion the check valve B4 slides upwards due tosuction being created above it and the fact that the water under it exerts upward pressure on it. Upon opening of the check valve water flows into the housing 65 and thence upwards through the inlet 2S intov the center of the pump impeller 5.1.

When it is desired to use the combined turbine and centrifugal; booster pump' it' is immersed' in the source of water to be pumped. If the source is adeep well, for example, the combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump is'lowered into the lower end of the well casing; As soon as the unit is immersedA in the water source the valve lli is opened and the main centrifugal pump 5 is then set in operation.r Opening of the valve i4 results in water flowing from the tank 6 into the inlet of the casing 8` of' the main pump and also into the pipev type conduit 34. As soon as the main centrifugal pump starts to operate a portion of the pumped Wateriiows downward through the pipe type conduit 4.3 into the. center of the turbine rotor 54. Passage of water under pressure into. the. turbine rotor results in. drive of the unitary rotary member 2l. In connection withdrive of the member 2l water is drawn intoA the center of the pump impeller 2l via the housing 65 and the inlet 23 and is forced" outwards under press-nre through theoutlet 33 and thence upwards through the conduit 34- into thev inlet of the oasingoi the main centrifugal pump. In the event of stoppage of the main pump the check valve 64 moves by gravity into its closed position wherein it seals the opening or circular hole. 69l and thus locksthe water in the casing 20 and the conduits Stand 43. In connection with .operation of the Acombined turbine. and .centrifugal booster. pump the water which is used for purposes of effecting rotation of the unitary rotary member 2l mixes with the water that is pumped by the impeiler 5.1 and iiows upwards with the latter into the inlet of the casing of the main centrifugalL pump 5.

The herein described. combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump, due to the design, construction and arrangements ofv the parts thereof, isv of exceptionally small size andv in yaddition is'extremel'y highly efficient so far ask operationis concerned. It is essentially a self-contained unit, has extremely long life, and is capable oi being produced or manufactured at a low and.

reasonable cost.

The invention is not to be understood` as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of. the. invention.

Having, thus described the invention', what I claim as new and desire to Asecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined. turbine and centrifugal booster pump comprising a casing consisting of cup-- shaped lower member having a small sized, cen-y trally disposed, circular liquid inlet in the botitom wall and an integral annular depending flange around said-inlet, a complemental inverted` cup-shaped upper member mounted on, and se-y cured to, the lower member and having a. large sized', centrally disposed; circular outlet opening in its tcp wall, and a vertically elongated ring shaped member disposed concentrically within the central lower portion of the upper member and the central upper portion of the lower mem-- ber, having the inner periphery thereof defining a second liquid inlet and its outer periphery deiining with the adjacent portions of the inner peripheries of the side walls-of the upper andlower members a liquid outlet duct leading from the outer portions of the interior of the lower member to said outlet opening and provided with integral vertically elongated outwardly and radially extending webs theV upper outer corners of' which are i'ixedly connected to the lower end of the side 'wall of the upper member and the lower outer corners of which t snugly'within the upper end of the side wall of the lower member and serve to hold said-lower member in centered relation with the upper member of the casing; and a horizontally extending one-piece membermounted rotatably in the lower portion of the lower member of the casing and embodying a at `circular upper shroud directly beneath the lower end of the ring shaped member and the upper eX- tremity of the side wall of the lower member of the casing, a flat circular lower shroud directly above the bottom wall of said. lower member', a flat circular intermediate shroud in spaced relation between the upper and lower shrouds, an annular series of blades between. the upper shroud and the intermediate shroud, and an annular series of blades between the lower shroud and said intermediate shroud, the upper shroud having a central opening therein in registry and communicating relation with thev lower end of the liquid inlet in the ring shaped member and in addition an integral upwardly extending cylindrical sealing ring extending around thelast mentionedv opening and fitting rotatably in the lower end of the ringshaped mem-ber, and forming with the intermediate-shroud and the first mentioned annular series of `blades an outflow variety turbine rotor adapted in response to flow of liquid under pressure through said inlet in the ring shaped member to effect drive'of the member and at the saine timedirectthe liquid outwards against the side wail of the lower member of the .casing for discharge via the outlet duct, the lower shroud having in the central portionthereof a central opening in registry and communicating relation with the liquid inlet inthe bottomwall of the lower member of t'hefcasing, .also having an 'inte'- gral depending cylindrical sealing ring extending around the last mentioned opening and fitting rotatably within said annular depending iiange, and defining with the intermediate shroud and the second mentioned annular series of blades a closed variety pump impeller adapted in response to drive of the member to draw liquid through the last mentioned liquid inlet and to force the liquid under pressure outwards against the side wall of the lower member for discharge via said outlet duct.

2. A combined turbine and centrifugal booster pump comprising a casing consisting of a cupshaped lower member having a small sized, centrally disposed, circular liquid inlet in its bottom wall and an integral annular depending flange around said inlet, and a complemental inverted cup-shaped upper member mounted on, and secured to, the lower member and embodying means forming a small sized, vertically elongated, centrally disposed second liquid inlet and a large sized, vertically elongated, annular liquid outlet duct extending around said second inlet and leading upwards from the outer portion of the interior of the lower member; a horizontally extending outflow variety turbine rotor mounted in the casing directly beneath the lower end of said second inlet and adapted in response to downiiow of the liquid under pressure through said second inlet to revolve and at the same time direct the liquid outwards against the side wall of the lower member of the casing for discharge Via the annular outlet duct; a horizontally extending inipeller mounted in the casing directly above the bottom wall of the lower member, connected to, and for drive by, the turbine rotor, embodying a lower shroud with a central opening therein in registry and communicating relation with the inlet in the bottom wall of the lower member and also with an integral depending cylindrical sealing ring extending around the opening and iitting rotatably within the depending flange, and adapted in response to drive to draw liquid through the liquid inlet in said bottom wall of the lower member and force the liquid under pressure outwards against the side wall of the lower member for discharge via said annular outlet duct; means for rotatably supporting the rotor and impeller, embodying a cupshaped element of less diameter than the depending flange, disposed directly beneath but in spaced relation with said flange and connected to the latter by an annular series of integral upwardly extending spaced apart arms, and a vertically eX- tending shaft having the lower end thereof journalled in the cup-shaped element and its upper end connected to the central portions of said rotor and impeller; a cup-shaped housing surrounding and spaced from the cup-shaped element, having the upper end of the side wall thereof extending around and connected -byva screw thread to the aforementioned depending ange having in its bottom wall a centrally disposed circular hole with an annular valve seat around its upper portion, and having its interior in communication -with its liquid inlet in the bottom wall of the lower member by way of the spaces between said arms; and a check valve disposed in the lower portion of the cup-shaped housing and mounted so that it is slidable vertically back and forth between an open position wherein it is in abutment with the bottom of the cup-shaped element and a closed position wherein it seats against said annular seat.

DE WITT E. YATES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,034,184 Alberger July 30, 1912 1,700,678 Jennings Jan. 29, 1929 2,385,730 Read Sept. 25, 1945 vFOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 32,057 Germany July 1, 1885 380,867 Germany Sept. 13, 1923 466,729 France Mar. 11, 1914 534,260 Germany Sept. 24, 1931 

